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UAE Free Zone Cost Estimator — Calculate Your Total First Year Cost
Setting up a UAE free zone company has multiple cost components beyond the licence fee. This guide breaks down the full first-year cost for common UAE free zones so you can plan your budget accurately.
In this guide:
UAE Free Zone Full First-Year Cost Components
- Licence fee: the annual trade licence cost; the number most free zones advertise
- Registration / establishment card: one-time or first-year fee; varies by free zone; AED 1,500-5,000 typical
- Visa costs: UAE residence visa per person; AED 3,500-6,000 per visa depending on free zone and visa type
- Medical / Emirates ID: each visa holder needs medical test and Emirates ID; AED 500-800 per person
- Health insurance: mandatory for all UAE residents; AED 1,000-5,000/year per person depending on coverage and emirate
- Office or desk: some free zones include a flexi-desk; others charge separately; AED 0-15,000/year for flexi-desk
- Bank account opening: typically free but some banks charge AED 2,500-5,000 account opening fee for business accounts
IFZA (International Free Zone Authority) — First Year Cost Estimate
- Licence fee: AED 14,900 (single activity, 1 visa allocation)
- Registration: approximately AED 1,500
- 1 investor visa: approximately AED 4,500 (visa + medical + Emirates ID + health insurance)
- Flexi-desk: included in the package for most IFZA bundles
- Bank account: WIO Bank (free); commercial bank AED 0-2,500
- Total estimate for 1 person: AED 20,900-22,000
DMCC — First Year Cost Estimate
- Licence fee: AED 21,000 (FZE, 1 shareholder)
- Registration: approximately AED 2,500
- 1 investor visa: approximately AED 5,000
- Flexi desk: AED 5,000-8,000/year (DMCC does not always include desk in base licence)
- Bank account: major UAE bank; no additional fee for account opening typically
- Total estimate for 1 person: AED 33,500-36,500/year
Shams (Sharjah Media City) — First Year Cost Estimate
- Licence fee: AED 5,750 (Shams starter package)
- Registration: approximately AED 500
- 1 investor visa: approximately AED 3,800
- Flexi desk: may be included; or AED 3,000-6,000/year
- Bank account: challenging; WIO Bank may accept; some entrepreneurs use Wise or Airwallex for international payments instead
- Total estimate for 1 person: AED 10,050-16,050/year
RAKEZ — First Year Cost Estimate
- Licence fee: AED 7,500-12,000 (service or trading, 1 activity)
- Registration: approximately AED 1,000
- 1 investor visa: approximately AED 4,000
- Flexi desk: typically included or AED 3,000-5,000
- Total estimate for 1 person: AED 12,500-17,000/year
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